Numbering-machine.



B., B. CONRAD.

NUMBEBING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED APB. 17.1908.

905,987. Patented nec. 8,1908.

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Patented Dec, 8

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La Feynm B. B. GUNRAD. NUMBBRING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.17.1908.

Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 3 B. B. CONRAD. NUMBERING- MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED APR.17.1908.

905,987. Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

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B. B. CONRAD.

NUMBERING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED APB. 17.1008.

Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

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NUMBERING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED 1211.17.1908.

905,987. Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

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Vflf/ f1 B'. B. Comm)l NUMBERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APB. 1121908.

Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

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zeesses/ Cr1 a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN Bf CONRAD, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICANNUMBERING MACHINE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

N UMBERING-MACHINE To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN B. CONRAD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Brooklyn, New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Numbering-Machines, of which the following is a clear,full, and exact description.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved hand numberingmachine, which will combine the advantages of an automatic machine, thatis one which will print consecutively, duplicate or perform other suchchanges of numbers automaticallyupon the depression of the plunger headof the machine, with means for throwing out of operation such automaticmechanism and putting into operation a hand or manually controlledmechanism to cause the changes of the numbers to be effected. Machineswhich produce either of the results mentioned heretofore are on themarket today, but for the first time, I believe, I have incorporated ina single machine, mechanism which will permit the operator at will tochange the operation of an individual machine from automatic to lever orvice versa.

The scope of my invention will be set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 represents in front elevation amachine built according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a section of part ofthe machine drawn to a larger scale, on line 2 2, Fig. 1, illustratingthe position of parts to make the machine a lever machine. Fig. 3 is aview similar to Fig. 2, showing the same parts as Fig. 2, but with thelever thrown over after advancin T a wheel. Fig. 4 is an enlarged viewon line 4 4 Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but with themachine adjusted for automatic operation. Fig. 6 is a view similar' toFig. 5 with the plunger head depressed. Fig. 7 is a perspective view ofthe yoke upon which the cam acts to change the operation of the machine.Fig. 8 is a side view of the machine in section taken on line 8-8 Fig.10. Fig. 9 is a section on line Q-Q Fig. 10. Fig. 10 is a frontelevation with the front plate removed, and the plunger head partiallydown. Fig. 11 is a sectional view on line 11-11 Fig. 8. Fig. 12 is adetailed view of the mechanism for changing the character of theautomatic operation. Fig. 13 is a de tail partly in section of the pawlblock. Fig. 14 is a front elevation of a modified typenof Specificationof Letters Patent.

Application filed April 17, 1908.

Fatented Dec. 8, 1908'.

Serial No. 427,603.

machine. Fig. 15 is a section on line 1.5-15 of Fig. 14. Fig. 16 is asection on line 16-16 Fig. 15. Fig. 17 is an enlarged schematic sideelevation of the operating parts of the machine in position for leveroperation with the frame and shaft in section. Fig. 18 is a view similarto Fig. 17, showing the position of parts after the operation of thelever'. Fig. 19 is a similar view showing this modified form of .machinein a position for automatic operation. Fig. 20 is a similar figure to 19 showing the numbering head depressed. Fig. 21 is a perspective view ofthe shield with the lever shown broken off. Fig. 22 is a perspectiveview of the yoke for carrying the pawl block, of both ty )es of machinesdescribed herein. Fig. 23 1s a central sectional plan of that part ofthe pawl block mechanism adjacent to its shaft, and Fig. 24 is a plan ofthe pawl block mechanism.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 13, my improved machine consists of a U shapedframe 1 having affixed to its lower ends a gage plate 2. Through theupper part of the frame 1 there extends a shank 3, surmounted by ahandle or knob 4. This shank 3 carries a numbering head 5, which isguided during its up and down movements, in slots 6 of the frame, itsshaft 7 acting as a guide. On the shaft 7 are the usual numbering wheels8, and their ratchets 9. Arms 10 pivoted on the shaft 7 and shown inperspective in Fig. 22 carry at their outer ends the pawl blockmechanism. The arms 10 are joined by a transverse rod or bar 11. Thepawl block mechanism consists of a plate 12 pivoted between the arms 10and provided with downwardly depending pawl teeth 13 of the usualconstruction. The pawl block 12 is mounted on a shaft 14 which is itselfsecured to the arms 10. On the shaft 14 there is freely pivoted asegment 15 provided with notches 16, 17 and 17 as is quite common in theart. On the shaft 7 of the machine, there is mounted a loose ratchetwheel 18* having deep and shallow notches around its periphery. A bolt18 controlled by a knob 19 and held in the position in which it is shownin Fig. 13 by a spring 2O is adapted to engage notch 16 or 17 or 17* ofthe segment 15, so as to permit the pawl block 12 to be held free of theratchet wheels 9, when the bolt 18 engages the slot 16. When it isdesired to produce duplicate numbering, the bolt 18 is shot into theslot17, in which case the segment 15 will ride first on the shallownotch and then l words Lever or Repeat the parts will on the deep notchof the loose ratchet wheel 18*. hen the bolt is shot into the slot 17'*the segment 15 will be thrown out of operation, and the machine willnumber consecutively. All the matters heretofore described are wellknown in the numbering machine art, and do not differ in operation frommachines shown in many prior patents. The arms 10, which carry the pawlblock, are each of them pivoted to a link 21, which in turn is pivoted.to a yoke piece 22, which is permanently pivoted at 23 to the frame ofthe machine. The yoke piece has an upstanding end 24, which -comesopposite a cam 25, pivoted at 26 to the frame. The cam 25 is providedwith an operating handle 27, and index pointer 28. it is provided with aslot 29, see Fig. 4, and with an extending arm 30. It has a straightside 31 adapted in lock position to engage a slot 32 in the plunger rod3. A face plate 33 at the front of the machine is supplied with legendsreading lock automatic lever or repeat. When the index pointer 28 ismoved to the position of lock the straight side 31 may be caused toengage the slot 32 of the machines plunger rod, when the numbering headis depressed, so that ink pads may be changed or wheels manipulated byhand, as is the custom. Then the pointer points lto the word Automaticthe machine will be in the position of Figs. 5, 6, and 8 where the arm30 of the cam will force away from the frame the upstanding extension 24of the yoke 22, compressing the springs 35 to a slight degree.

Upon depressing the numbering head from the position of Fig. 5 to thatof Fig. 6, it will be seen that the pawl 13 will have slid to the nextratchet tooth as shown in that figure. Upon the upward movement of thenumbering head 5, which as in all machines of this character, isspring-controlled, the pawl 13 will be forced down and rotate the numberwheel, which it may advance a distance of a ratchet tooth. It will beseen that pressure on the pivot 34 on the upward movement of the headwill be between the pivot point 2,3 and the upstanding end 24 of theyoke, thus there will be no tendency to oscillate the yoke and it willbe for the time being a permanent and stationary pivot point for thelink 21, therefore automatic operation of the machine will be secured solong as the index points to theword Automatic The character oftheautomatic operation will be determined by the position of the segment 15and the pawl 18 as heretofore described, so that duplicate, consecutiveor repeat numbering may be secured, or any other according to theconfiguration of the loose ratchet wheel employed.

When the index pointer 28 points to the assume the position of Figs. 2and 3. The rod 30 of the cam 25 will be out of the way of the yoke 22,and the springs 35 will press the pivot point 34 well to the right, sothat the yoke itself will come well within the path of studs 36 on ashield 37, to which shield is attached the lever 38. rlhe shield 37 ispivoted at 39 to side plates 40 of the numbering head, and its outwardmovement is limitedV by stop pins 41 on the plate. A spring 42 tendsalways to hold the shield in the position of Fig. 9. When the parts arein the position of Figs. 2 and 3, upon moving the lever from the dottedposition of Fig. 3 to the full line position of that figure, it will beseen that the yoke will be oscillated, springs 35 compressed, the pivotpoints 34, which were stationary during the automatic operation, will bethrown forward, the links 21, due to this forward movement, will rotatea number wheel ratchet 9, the distance of one tooth, and upon therelease of the lever 38 the springs 35 and 42 will return the parts tothe position of Fig. 2. During the downward travel of the numbering headwhen in the position of Figs. 2 and 3, no operation, i. e. no automaticoperation will be achieved for the following reason. Upon forcing theknob 4 and the numbering head 5 downward the cross bar 11 of the armswhich carry the pawl block 12 will impinge upon the edge of the sideplates 40 of the machine, and consequently the pawls will not be movedany material distance on the ratchet teeth. The pivot point 34 however,through the link 21 will be pulled forward by the downward movement ofthe plunger head, but the only eHect that this will produce will be tocompress the springs 35. Upon the upward movement of the plunger headthe wheels will not be advanced because the springs 35, as the headrises, will push the pivot point 34 back to the position of Fig. 2,without causing movement of the pawl block.

it will thus be seen, that according to the position of the cam, themachine can be caused lto automatically change the numbers or the changeof the numbers may be left to the manual control of the operator as maybe desired. The inking pad 42 may be pivoted to the frame at 43, andconnected by links 44, to the side plates 40 of the machine, as is usualin machines of this type.

yln preference for the sake of uniformity, and ease of operation, Ilocate two springs 35, one at each side of the numbering head, and Iprovide duplicate sets of links 21 to connect with the yoke 22. Usualdetaining pawls 45 may be used, and in fact the machine may beconstructed like any ordinary numbering machine, except that the pivotpoint for the link 2 1 is adapted to be held stationary for theautomatic operation, and is made freely lio movable for lever operation,the cam being provided to select Which operation shall be the prevailingone at the instant.

In the modification shown in Figs. 14 to 25, instead ot providing a camwhich, upon its mere shift, Will change the pivot point oi the leverscontrolling the movement of the pavvl frame, 1 provide positive meansfor locking into operative position either the lever means or theautomatic mechanism. Briefly it consists of a latch adapte to bedisconnected from the automatic links and connected directly with thelever or vice versa.

The machine comprises a U trame 50, a rod 51 secured to the numberinghead 52, a knob 53 surmounting the rod 51. The lever 54 terminates in ashield 55 having slots 56 in its side arms, pivot points 57 and lugs 5S,see Fig. 21. The shield is pivoted to the numbering head at 80 and thespring 58* normally lreeps it in the position of Figs. 15 and 16.

The pa'Wl blocl; 59 is mounted on the 'freely swinging bracket 60 seeFig. 22, by means oi hollow sleeves 51 having handles 52. The shaft 63on Which the block 59 is hung passes into said sleeves, at each end, butthe sleeves extend beyond the sides of the braclet 5() (see Fig. 23).Springs 5e tend always to hold the sleeves in the position of Fig. 23.

On the number Wheel shaft arms 71 are freely pivoted to which armslinlrs are pivoted by a cup shaped pin 73 into which the sleeves mayenter. rlhe links 72 are pivoted to the trame at 7 4 by a pin passingthrough a slotted plate 75 to Which is secured the inl: pad holder 76.

In the position heretofore described the device is an automatic machine.In order to male the machine a lever machine the handles of the sleevesare grasped and moved to disengage the cup pins 73 and caused to enterthe slots in the shield of the lever, so that the operation ot the leveralone will operate the paWl block.

The pins 58 on the shield are to cause the ink pad 76 to be moved awayfrom the Wheels before they are rotated.

Although I have shown in Figs. 14 to 24; a modified form of machineWhich comes Within the broad claims of this application, and for Which 1have made no specific claim herein, nevertheless l do not abandon myright to apply for a speciiic patent vfor such construction in anotherapplication in good time.

I claim as my invention:

1. The herein described numbering machine comprising a frame, a plunginghead, said plunging head having Wheels and ratchets, pawl mechanismadapted to advance the Wheels When actuated, a lever adapted for handoperation, means adapted to automatically control the operation of thepawls and means t'or preventing the operation of the hand lever vvhenthe machine is set tor automatic operation.

2. The herein described numbering inachine comprising a trame, aplunging head, said plunging head ha ring Wheels and ratchets, pa1nechanism adapted to advance the i els When actuated, a lever adaptedfor hand operation, .means adapted to automatically control theoperation of the pavvls and means tor rendering inert either theautomatic means of operation or the hand lever, said means comprising acam, an operating handle therefor extending beyond the trame, a plate iniront of which said lever extends, and legends on said plate.

3. rilhe herein described` numbering machine comprising a trame, aplunging head, said plunging head having 'Wheels and ratchets, paivlmechanism adapted to advance the Wheels when actuated, a lever adaptedtor hand operation, means adapted to automatically control the operationof the paufls and means 'for rendering inert either the automatic meansot operation or the hand lever, the means tor operating said pavvlscomprising a system or levers connected between the plunging heat andthe trame of the machine, said hand lever adapted upon its manipulationto abut against and operate said system o'l" levers, said means orcontrol being adapted to prevent the operation by said hand lever ci thesystem ot l vers, and in so preventing the operation ot the hand leveradapted to so position the series oi levers with relation to theplunging hea-d and trame that upon the reciprocation of the plunginghead the parvis vfill be caused to automatically operate.

4. T he herein described numbering machine coinprising a frame, aplunging head, said plunging head having Wheels and ratchets, pawlmechanism adapted to advance the Wheels Wien actuated, a lever adaptedfor hand operation, means adapted to automatically control the operationof the pau/'ls and means for preventing the operation of the hand leverwhen the machine is set for automatic operation and means carried by theplunging head to control the character of operation of the automaticmovement.

5. rThe herein described numbering machine comprising a ira-me, aplunging head, said plunging head having Wheels and ratchets, pai/vlmechanism adapted to advance the wheels when actuated, a lever adaptedfor hand operation, means adapted to automatically control the operationof the parvls and means for rendering inert either the automatic meansof operation or the hand lever, said means comprising a cam, anoperating handle therefor extending beyond the frame, a plate throughwhich said lever extends and legends on said plate, and means carried bythe plunging head to control the character of operation of the automaticmovement.

6. The herein described numbering machine, comprising a frame, aplunging head, said plunging head having wheels and ratchets, pawlmechanism adapted to advance the wheels when actuated, a lever adaptedfor hand operation, means adapted to automatically control the operationof the pawls and means for rendering inert either the automatic means ofoperation or the hand lever, the means for operating said pawlscomprising a system of levers connected between the plunging head andthe frame of the machine, said hand lever adapted upon its manipulationto abut against and operate said system of levers, said means of controlbeing adapted to prevent operation by said hand lever of the system oflevers and in so preventing the operation or' the hand lever adapted toso position the series of levers with relation to the plunging head andframe that upon the reciprocation of the plunging head the pawls will becaused to automatically operate, and means carried by the plunging headto control the character of operation of the automatic movement.

7. A numbering machine comprising a frame, a reciprocating head carryinga shaft and number wheels, a pawl block carried on links pivoted to saidhead, links pivoted to said pawl block at one end and to the frame atanother end, a hand lever adapted to operate said links and the pawlblock, means for limiting the motion of said links where they areattached to the frame, whereby either the hand lever or the automaticcontrol of the machine may be secured by manipulation of said means.

S. A numbering machine comprising a frame, a reciprocating head,numbering mechanism thereon, means for automatically advancing thenumbering mechanism upon reciprocation of said head, means for manuallyadvancing said numbering mechanism, said means comprising a hand lever,means for selecting at will the automatic mechanism or the levermechanism, and means for preventing the operation of the hand lever whenthe machine is set for automatic operation.

9. A numbering machine comprising a frame, a reciprocating head,numbering mechanism thereon, a pawl block, pawls thereon, numberingwheels, ratchets therefor, means for automatically actuating the pawlblock upon reciprocation of said head, means for manually actuating saidpawl block to advance the ratchets, and means for selecting at willeither the automatic means or the manually advancing means.

l0. A numbering machine comprising a frame, a reciprocating head,numbering mechanism thereon, a pawl block, pawls thereon, numberingwheels, ratchets therefor, means for automatically actuating the pawlblock upon the reciprocation of said head, means for manually actuatingsaid pawl block to advance the ratchets, means for selecting at willeither the automatic means or the manually advancing means, and meansfor preventing the operation of the automatic mechanism when the machineis set for manual operation.

Signed at New York city this 15th day of April 1908.

BENJAMIN B. CONRAD.

litnesses: 1

F. WARREN WRIGHT, MABEL DUTTENHOEFER.

